For the first time in history, the Queen could face industrial action among disgruntled palace staff. Workers at one of the royal family’s most iconic residences, Windsor Castle, are preparing to ballot in a dispute over pay.

The Public and
Commercial Services union (PCS) confirmed more than 100 of the
lowest-paid workers at Windsor Castle are due to be balloted from
Tuesday, and will decide whether to take non-strike action in a
dispute over pay.

The ballot announcement came as the Queen prepared to meet Prime
Minister David Cameron to formally dissolve parliament before the
May 7 general election.

PCS have said staff at the palace, where starting salaries are as
little as £14,400 per year, receive less than the living wage and
have suffered years of pay restraint.

The union has proposed non-strike measures involving the
withdrawal of “goodwill” measures, such as giving tours
to paying visitors of the castle.

The initial dispute over pay began in 2014, when staff at the
palace accepted what the union said was an
“unsatisfactory” pay offer in the knowledge that
allowances for duties such as giving tours would be considered
during the coming year.

The union decided to ballot for industrial action after it was
revealed the allowances would not be allocated.

If PCS members vote in favor of action, it will take place in the
week before the general election.

Mark Serwotka, the PCS general secretary, called the royal
family’s treatment of workers “scandalous.”

“These workers are loyal to their employer and absolutely
committed to ensuring visitors are given the royal treatment,” he
said. “It is scandalous that staff are so appallingly paid and
expected to do work for free that brings in money for the royal
family.”

A spokesperson for the union said it was a coincidence that the
action could take place so close to the general election, but
added that the timing was “nonetheless welcome if it helps to
put some added focus on how badly paid royal household staff
are.”

Campaigners for Republic, a group which advocates an elected head
of state, have criticized the behavior of the Queen.

Graham Smith, chief executive of the campaign, called the
situation a “failure of leadership.”

“It is a failure of leadership on the part of the Queen that
despite receiving close to £300 million a year in public subsidy,
she continues to pay staff so badly,” he said. “The Queen as head
of state has a responsibility to set a higher standard, to lead
by example. Paying hard-working staff such low wages, while
expecting them to do so much more than their jobs demand, shows
an appalling contempt.”

Smith further said the fact that staff are paid so poorly was
exploitative.

“It is typical of the royals that they continue to demand
more money for themselves, spending millions on refurbishing
their homes, yet they exploit the goodwill of those ordinary
hard-working people that keep the palaces running.”